Beer Leagues, Gear, and other Non-Pro Related Items

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
How’s the hip feeling?
Not great.

I got cleared at the 5 month mark to start skating again, and I felt amazing. The doctor was really confortable with the healing, the strength, the range of motion, etc etc.

Since I started skating again, it's starting feeling weak, and now does this weird catch/pop thing at random times that can hurt so much at times it'll drop me to a knee.

That being said, I've got an appt with the doctor in a couple weeks and have cut back on hockey to one game every other week.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
I took the vacation money I won't spend this year and bought a percussive therapy gun. Would highly recommend.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
I took the vacation money I won't spend this year and bought a percussive therapy gun. Would highly recommend.
Which one? I've been reluctant to pull the trigger because Amazon has like 100 of them from $80-300 and the last thing I want to do is buy something that'll make things worse.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
I ended up going with the $599 Theragun Pro. The extra money over the base models gets you a stronger/more quiet motor and the best battery/a backup battery so you can hot swap and not worry about remembering to charge all the time. I keep my stress in my hands and arms, so I do 3-4 10 minute passes a day. Look up videos on how to use them correctly (right tip/motion for the body part) or you might "make things worse" as you put it. Also, "quiet" means "your neighbors won't hear unless you drop it on the floor" not "you won't hear it". I wear headphones to listen to stuff while I'm using it. I think that's my only complaint so far.

Edit: 2 other things. The pro's head rotates, so you can reposition it to get places (like your back) a lot easier. I also am surprisingly happy with the supersoft attachment. I can go full-power on all angles of my elbows and it provides cushioned but firm pressure.
 
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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
My 40+ starts Sunday. ‍:unsure:

I joined a new team this year after sitting out most of last year because my previous team was a disaster. They’re always pretty good, and I usually enjoy playing against them. I play pick-up with a bunch of them and they’re old school- definitely some old time hockey with beers after. I’ll probably only skate with them for a year as we’re trying to put together another team for the league, but it will be fun.

That said, we grabbed an underage player (35), which isn’t a huge deal if you’re cool about it, except he played 10 years of pro hockey in the minors. There’s a handful of good players in the league- a few ex minor leaguers, bunch of guys who played in college, elite HS players, etc. But those guys are over 40...had a guy on my last team who led the Swedish second division in scoring, but 35 years ago. This dude (who I’ve played with) is going to lay waste to the league, and while he’s a great dude (legit- great guy to have a beer with, coaches 7 days a week), it’s kind of dumb. We open Sunday with the presumably worst team in the league...sucks. Could be real ugly.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,530
In the simulacrum
My 40+ starts Sunday. ‍:unsure:

I joined a new team this year after sitting out most of last year because my previous team was a disaster. They’re always pretty good, and I usually enjoy playing against them. I play pick-up with a bunch of them and they’re old school- definitely some old time hockey with beers after. I’ll probably only skate with them for a year as we’re trying to put together another team for the league, but it will be fun.

That said, we grabbed an underage player (35), which isn’t a huge deal if you’re cool about it, except he played 10 years of pro hockey in the minors. There’s a handful of good players in the league- a few ex minor leaguers, bunch of guys who played in college, elite HS players, etc. But those guys are over 40...had a guy on my last team who led the Swedish second division in scoring, but 35 years ago. This dude (who I’ve played with) is going to lay waste to the league, and while he’s a great dude (legit- great guy to have a beer with, coaches 7 days a week), it’s kind of dumb. We open Sunday with the presumably worst team in the league...sucks. Could be real ugly.

I think you are a way better hockey player than I am. Damn.

I am actually sitting out and it is killing me. Sounds like a great league.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Ha...didn’t mean to come off like that. I’m decent but not actually that talented- I’ve got a skill set that allows me to play up a bit, which is fun. I’d rather be one of the worst 5 players than best 5.

The league is decent. We were at 6 teams for a couple of years but we're down to 5 for this year. As long as it lasts.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,530
In the simulacrum
I get it, but yeah, I am sure you are awfully good. I sometimes (rarely, but it has happened) skate in some drop ins with former pros and D1 players (who don’t exactly toss me a beer at the end and ask me if I am looking for a team) and I am blown away by the gulf. There is no hard work and bootstrap story where I could skate like these people. Bravo.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
To me the biggest gulf is D3 to D1...I've skated with a bunch of kids who played juniors and/or D3, and while they're certainly better than I am, I can hang around without embarrsing myself. But guys who played D1/pros (Coast and up), woof. Sometimes it's size, or speed, or skill, or IQ, or all of them, but there's a reason those guys played elite level hockey. It's almost a different sport...I certainly don't want to imply I can skate like them.
I can keep up when they're in their 50s though :fonz:
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Puck control is the biggest thing I see. Just so much better at keeping the puck and preventing you from getting it off their sticks.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Puck control is the biggest thing I see. Just so much better at keeping the puck and preventing you from getting it off their sticks.
This is a good call. And then even when you guess right and get a piece, they just run you down and take it back :rolleyes:
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Yup.

This all seems intuitively obvious.

My league had a spreader even (not super though) in week one. I am not regretting my decision to sit out.
I've sat out so far, but the winter league is starting in a month. I know that if I don't get back on the ice for that I'm pretty much done. It's not likely at my age (52) I'll get back into the swing of it if I sit out a full year. I bought a bubble and will see how it works out using a gator. I suspect any type of mask is going to cause too much fogging, but I'm going to try it out at pickup next week.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,530
In the simulacrum
I know that if I don't get back on the ice for that I'm pretty much done.
I am worried about this too. My hockey related depression is significant. I kept up the good fight for much of the spring and early summer getting exercise and working out hockey related body parts with in-line skates, but I've sort of lost the will.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
I am totally waffling back and forth on whether or not to play. I told my team captain last week I was in for the winter league that starts in 3 weeks. Now with VT reporting issues and NH shutting down games for a few weeks along with the spikes happening I'm starting to think it's a dumb idea. I really think that if NH is pulling back a little, it seems obvious that RI will definitely put the clamps on leagues soon. I'm really struggling with the decision.


https://www.wcax.com/2020/10/13/state-leaders-to-provide-update-on-vermonts-covid-19-response/
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,847
For reference, and I know it's a bit of a different animal, indoor soccer has started up down here--in fact it started about 3 months ago. No issues so far.

However, there's no locker room really needed, so that's one area of potential spread gone.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
MA rinks shut down for two weeks.
Found that out as I was pulling into the rink for my game tonight.

My read is that it’s the tournaments that are the problem. I don’t think men’s leagues are an issue if rinks are smart (and ours apparently is the strictest out there) but cramming that many people into a rink all traveling in can’t turn out well.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
Found that out as I was pulling into the rink for my game tonight.

My read is that it’s the tournaments that are the problem. I don’t think men’s leagues are an issue if rinks are smart (and ours apparently is the strictest out there) but cramming that many people into a rink all traveling in can’t turn out well.
You should’ve seen two Saturdays ago at Hockey Town. Long story short I play in a roller hockey league upstairs. We’ve done a good job of following the rules. The ice rinks downstairs with the youth leagues were a completely different story. You would think there was no pandemic was going on unless you read the signs that everyone was ignoring. At that point I decided to stay home because the rink was going to get shut down in 2 like weeks anyway. And wouldn’t you know only took 12 days.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
You should’ve seen two Saturdays ago at Hockey Town. Long story short I play in a roller hockey league upstairs. We’ve done a good job of following the rules. The ice rinks downstairs with the youth leagues were a completely different story. You would think there was no pandemic was going on unless you read the signs that everyone was ignoring. At that point I decided to stay home because the rink was going to get shut down in 2 like weeks anyway. And wouldn’t you know only took 12 days.
Yeah we were talking in the parking lot tonight and some of the guys have kids who play and they said it’s been all over the map at the rinks. Some are way better than others.

There’s also the guess that MA is getting ahead of NH who shut down rinks starting next week.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
NH shut down hockey last week, didn't they?
I thought it was next week but I’m going off what they said which is NOT a good source. Either way I think they were afraid of people coming down from NH for hockey tourneys.

How’d everything go for you? Feeling ok now?
 

OfTheCarmen

Cow Humper
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2007
5,208
Coach on my son's hockey team tested positive this morning so his whole team is shut down for 2 weeks and now we have to quarantine him from school for 2 weeks as well.

Now we get to try to find a rapid testing place for he and I (I coach the team also) tomorrow.

EDIT - Central CT for those curious.
 
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Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
Just found out that a teammate and one of my good buddies in my hockey league tested positive today. I haven’t played since last Saturday morning (12 days ago) but I’m getting tested tomorrow morning anyway.
 

Lupe Whalewatch

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
3,164
Worlds End
I thought it was next week but I’m going off what they said which is NOT a good source. Either way I think they were afraid of people coming down from NH for hockey tourneys.

How’d everything go for you? Feeling ok now?
I'm feeling a lot better now, thanks for asking...this week got back to running and working out, and haven't felt any repercussions. Getting back on the golf course today as well. It was a pretty shitty two weeks though...I didn't really have an issue on the respiratory side, but total exhaustion, and complete loss of smell and taste.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
I echo above, it's been a mixed bag, but mostly a shit show at the youth level. One of my son's (10yo) teams has 17 players on it, and we're lucky if one doesn't show up. They want us to socially distance on the bench with 11 kids. It's impossible with the space provided. They want masks to be worn on the bench and half these kids can't buckle their own helmet, so unless they wear it the whole time, they don't wear it at all. Some have taken to just wearing it the entire time while on the ice so they don't have to fiddle with it on the bench.

My younger (6yo) son's team has been a bit more manageable. Most of those kids wear their mask while the skate so when they come off it's already on. Also typically only 4-6 on the bench for them, so easier to distance. Still tricky as they are playing cross ice so we have two teams on one bench.

There is a one chaperone rule that is completely being ignored. Tough to enforce when the president of our association brings a sibling and grandma to the games. How do you tell others not to bring family to games when they are? It's been a nightmare coordinating things on the family side with me running one of the teams, helping with the other, a third kid in the learn to play program, and another one at home. But we figure it out without bringing anyone extra to the rink. Most people are not doing that. I had a parent ask me if they were going to get half their league fee back because only one parent could watch...because that's what they pay for right? Watching their kid play. People are just tapped out man...

Locker rooms at half or so capacity. Not being followed at all. No parents in the locker room. Not being followed. We've taken to dressing at home and using the bleachers to do skates, but mostly everyone else is in the locker room, dressing kids, tying skates.

Barely anyone was following the rules put out there, and predictably, here we are.

I just hate it for the kids. Mine look forward to this so much and it's really their main outlet these days. Let the street hockey games commence. Bring on the cold for our back yard rink.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I’m at my local rink 6 days a week (3x a week for my son, 1x for my daughter, 2x for the bantam team I’m helping) and people have done a very good job following the rules. We’ve had 2 individuals test positive since the season began, handled things well. The rink hosts a cross ice league and 4 different leagues (boys and girls club and towns), and we’ve been fine. People in the YH program and rink are bullshit.

It’s been club programs hosting large tournaments that has been the issue as far as I’ve seen.
 

Foxy42

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 1, 2002
3,654
nyc
This sucks. Hockey May be the #1 thing that is keeping my son happy with something to look forward to as he is full time virtual for school. I don’t know why MA hockey didn’t just mandate masks underneath face shields at all times. My squirt has been wearing one for months and is fine w it.

I think the spreading has more to do w locker rooms, team parties, etc. There are parents for our club team that are saying we did everything perfectly while posting photos of the team all together w their arms around each other at a team part last Sunday (didn’t allow my son to go). Each of those kids them also plays for their town team...I don’t know if they can enforce it, but limiting kids to one game per weekend would be a good step.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
I’m at my local rink 6 days a week (3x a week for my son, 1x for my daughter, 2x for the bantam team I’m helping) and people have done a very good job following the rules. We’ve had 2 individuals test positive since the season began, handled things well. The rink hosts a cross ice league and 4 different leagues (boys and girls club and towns), and we’ve been fine. People in the YH program and rink are bullshit.

It’s been club programs hosting large tournaments that has been the issue as far as I’ve seen.
I think it comes down to our home rink really doing nothing to enforce the rules. The locker rooms seem to have the most potential for a breeding ground and they're packed and not cleaned before the next team comes in.

In your experience, how have the kids been doing with masks on the bench? I figure the Bantams shouldn't have much of an issue doing it themselves.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
My home rink does a good job with that, so I don’t know...I mean, it’s not going to be perfect.

I haven’t seen the bantams in action...I’m helping their coach (who is very good) as he’s working alone this year, but just at practices so far. He doesn’t really need help at games and I don’t really feel like adding another event to my schedule. I’m sure it’s good not great.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
My home rink does a good job with that, so I don’t know...I mean, it’s not going to be perfect.

I haven’t seen the bantams in action...I’m helping their coach (who is very good) as he’s working alone this year, but just at practices so far. He doesn’t really need help at games and I don’t really feel like adding another event to my schedule. I’m sure it’s good not great.
I'm not expecting perfect. But when there is a simple thing like an occupancy sign right on the door, that everybody just ignores, and nobody enforces, it seems like that's feeding the problem where there would be an easy solution.

edit: Sorry, really just venting here and wish people were being more proactive instead of getting us to this point. Would much rather the kids be on the ice right now with me sitting in the parking lot.
 

VORP Speed

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,633
Ground Zero
I'm not expecting perfect. But when there is a simple thing like an occupancy sign right on the door, that everybody just ignores, and nobody enforces, it seems like that's feeding the problem where there would be an easy solution.

edit: Sorry, really just venting here and wish people were being more proactive instead of getting us to this point. Would much rather the kids be on the ice right now with me sitting in the parking lot.
You’re right to be upset. Some of the stuff going on with youth hockey is absolutely moronic. Locker rooms should not be open. Kids should be arriving dressed and just heading straight out into the ice. A poorly ventilated hockey locker room filled with kids and parents with no masks is just indefensible.
Our rink/club was doing a very good job with strict protocols when it re-opened in August and then when the first weekend of games rolled around in September, they opened up the locker rooms and it was a total shitshow. After some pretty aggressive feedback, they went back to doing things sensibly, but it’s hit or miss at the other area rinks (CT). I won’t let my kids go into a locker room anywhere no matter how much they complain about it, but the entire situation is less than ideal.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
Back on the ice today. We must have been one of the first games to go off after the break with the 7am start. Contact tracing app in place to scan in and check out. Masks 100% of the time, during play as well. Locker rooms closed. I'm good with it if it keeps them on the ice.
 

Winger 03

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 15, 2003
1,673
Frederick, MD
The adult league I schedule referees for started again last night. Lots of rules though indications are everything went well on Sunday. I was surprised to see so many teams coming back. I am in the midst of giving our referee assignments and the Officials seem a little more hesitant than the players. I hope that changes - will make my job a lot easier.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Yeah, lot of blowback from the men's league (way less from youth hockey people) about the new restrictions, especially the masks on the ice...but if we want to play, that's what we have to do, so I'm okay with it.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
I think the curfew caught the leagues a bit of guard too. I know at our local rink, most of the youth stuff runs up until 9-9:30pm each night, leaving no room for the beer leagues. I see StinkySocks has added some day time hours. Will be interesting to see how well attended those skates are. I may try the Burlington 3:10 skate.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Yeah they moved our league to Sunday nights.

We bailed for the time being.
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
I stopped skating my morning skate once NH required tests to be able to participate. Within a week of my retirement for 2020, there was a COVID outbreak so I am glad I stayed away.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
Our program has a positive case on the Peewee team. My oldest is a Squirt, another is a Mite. Head coach was hinting tonight that this could be it for us. I don't think one case will shut our whole program down, but we're about to find out.
 

Dropkick Izzy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 28, 2003
5,978
Miltappan
It shouldn’t, although with the current MA numbers who knows. We had a peewee test positive in our town back before the shutdown and only that team stopped skating for one or two weeks (I can’t recall). Not sure if they officially quarantined or not though.

A kid on my team that was identified as a close contact to one of the positive cases out of Rockland via his club team. His dad, whom I trust, insists he wasn’t. Regardless, he had to get tested and sit out for about 5 days before returning to the ice (he never showed symptoms).
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,060
Alamogordo
Was going to finally get out and skate tonight at a stick and puck, after a move and over a year of not skating.... only to pull my gear out and realize my movers busted my helmet, so that's off.

So, I'm in the market for a new helmet. What do you guys recommend and how can I size them if buying online?
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Was going to finally get out and skate tonight at a stick and puck, after a move and over a year of not skating.... only to pull my gear out and realize my movers busted my helmet, so that's off.

So, I'm in the market for a new helmet. What do you guys recommend and how can I size them if buying online?
I use sideline swap for almost everything, but I like buying slightly used pro stock stuff.

If you're just playing low key rec hockey, you'd be fine just googling Discount Hockey Helmets or something like that and buying online. Most of them are easily adjustable these days so even if your head size is on the border between sizes, you'll end up okay.

38236
 
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